Church leaders working within limited timelines and with limited resources may be tempted to “go it alone” when it comes to church design tasks or church building projects. However, to ensure that your ministry is fully understood, and your goals are fully achieved, we always recommend involving professionals as early on as possible in the process. Whether it’s The McKnight Group or another church design specialist, we truly believe that having a partner that cares about your God-given mission, stewards your resources well, and has vast church construction experience can make all the difference. Here’s why.

It’s Never Too Early to Call in Professionals

As experienced designers, architects and church construction staff who are involved in and committed to our own churches, our goal is to understand you, your ministry, and what God has called you to do on a deep and personal level. In fact, church building projects begin well before any drawings are created. Sometimes churches feel that they must have it all figured out before connecting with professionals. But we want to help you strategize your project from the beginning and work together to get you to your optimal final destination. Church design and construction is a journey, and you may not know exactly what you need right off the bat.

Decisions, Decisions

Church building projects involve many decisions, some of which may have a major impact on your congregation and its mission. Should we relocate or stay where we are? Should we choose this property or that one? Should we remodel an existing building or design a new structure? These are not decisions you need to make blindly, or alone. We can help you analyze your options to make educated decisions that align with your church’s calling. Our team is experienced in creating comparative drawings for properties or structures. We can help forecast zoning and utility needs, as well as the costs of multiple options. And we can offer advice based on the challenges and successes of other church design projects with which we’ve been involved.

Is It Feasible?

Another reason to involve a professional early in a church build or remodel is the opportunity to perform a feasibility study. Often, we recommend feasibility studies to help a church decide if it should stay in its current location or relocate. Whether you’re weighing the pros and cons of two properties or four, we can provide data, as well as design concepts, to help you make the best decision for your church right from the start.

Don’t Forget the Sprinklers

While it may seem like a miniscule detail, we use sprinkler systems as an example of why early collaboration with professional church builders and designers is so important. If you’re looking at a facility and it doesn’t have access to public water, or doesn’t already have a sprinkler system installed, it’s likely out of compliance with state and/or local zoning law. Right from the start, you’d face a significant cost that could bury a project before it gets off the ground. That’s just one really good reason to call us early!

Even if you are in the beginning stages of a church building project, don’t be afraid to reach out to our experienced professionals for help. It’s never too soon to collect information and begin to plan for the future. Another way to learn about the process and get help is through our i3 webinar series. We invite you to participate in these topical conversations and look forward to supporting your church in its next building, design, or remodel project.